Electric switch housing



R. POPP ELECTRIC SWITCH HOUSING Filed Nov. 2, 1951 Pudalf IN V EN TOR.

film m Patented Jan. 5, 1954 2,665,354 ELECTRIC SWITCH HOUSING Rudolf Popp,

Valparaiso, Ind., assignor to McGill Manufacturing Company, Inc., Valparaiso, Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application November 2, 1951, Serial No. 254,467 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-168) The present invention relates to electric switches, and more particularly to electric switch assemblies of the type comprising a preassembled switch mechanism and a separable housing therefor.

In order to achieve economy in the manufacture of small electric switches, the number of individual parts such as stampings and moldings should be reduced to a minimum and the assembled design of such parts should facilitate easy assembly with consequent saving inlabor costs. Also, in the interests of safety the assembled switch should be so designed that the switch mechanism is completely enclosed and no extraneous metal parts are presented for inadvertent electric contact with the strands of conductor wires after the switch is wired in a circuit. However, the design of the preassembled switch mechanism and housing therefor should be such that the switch mechanism may be readily exposed for purposes of wiring the switch in a circuit.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved form of electric switch assembly comprising a preassembled switch mechanism and a separable housing therefor which may be readily assembled into a fully enclosed unitand which employs a minimum number of separable elements to be assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved design of electric switch mechanism for facilitating the assembly of a switch housing andpreassembled switch mechanism to form in the assembled relation, a fully enclosed unit.

A feature of the invention is the provision of an outer switch housing having a side wall opening through which a preassembled switch mechanism may be received to be enclosed, thehousing further having an aperture in a portion of its wall opposite the side wall opening to permit the of an operating member of the switch mechanism. The switch mechanism according to the invention, is further provided with a cover member carried therewith to automatically close the side wall opening of the housing when assembled in the housing by the simple of the housing.

Further objects, features and the attending advantages of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following specification and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevational view of the assembled switch switch mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view to show the assembly of the preassembled switch mechanism and housing, the housing being shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the assembled relation of the preassembled switch mechanism and the housing;

Fig. 4 is an end view partly in section to show the assembled relation in the switch housing of the cover plate carried by the preassembled switch mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective of the stamped cover plate.

The electric switch of the present invention providing a closed insulatingly housed unit is comprised of three principal components, an outer switch housing, an inner preassembled switch mechanism, and a locking member for securing together the switch mechanism and housing. The preassembled switch mechanism may be of the type comprising a pair of frame side members between which are secured switch contacts and operating mechanism therefor. A switch operating member extends radially from the switch mechanism. The outer housing is preferably formed or molded in one piece of cupshape having an preassembled switch mechanism H may be comprised of a plurality of switch contacts and operating mechanism not shown, but enclosed between the frame side plate members I3 and H. Details of the switch contacts and operating mechanism have not been shown inasmuch as they are not part of the present invention. However, if a more detailed understanding of a suitable form of preassembled switch contact mechanism is desired, my prior Patent 2,068,701,- issued January 26, 1937.

The outer housing It] is preferably molded in one piece of insulating plastic material in a form to closely surround the side plates 13 and Id of the preassembled switch mechanism 1!. The housing is preferably cup-shaped to provide a mouth or side wall opening it through which reference may be had to;

' each of said frame the preassembled switch mechanism H may be i received. An aperture IE is also formed ina wall of the housing It opposite to the mouth or side wall opening l5. The preassembled switch mechanism H has a threaded neck portion H extending radially therefrom and enclosesv a switch actuating member I8, together with the operating chain 19. The preassembled switch mechanism I I is adapted to be assembled within the housing [0 with the threaded neck portion it. of the switch mechanism extending through the aperture l6. Thereafter, the lock nut i2 may be threaded on the neck portion IT to secure the assembled relation of the switch as shown in 3.

In. order to close the mouth or side wall opening l5 of the outer housing a cover plate 28 is secured to the preassembled' switch mechanism H. In the preferred form of the invention the cover plate is secured between the side plates :3 and H by means of its projecting portions 2! and 23 which extend into suitable openings 23 and of the side plates :3 and 14, respectively. "he cover plate 20 is preferably a unitary stamp ng of fiber board or other insulating material and the cut-out portions 25 and 26 may be stamped from the cover to permit the passage of electric wire into the housing in to the inner switch contacts.

With particular reference toFig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that a simple and economical form of electric switch has been provided by this invention. To. complete a final assembly of the preassembled switch mechanism into the form of a completely enclosed unit it is only. necessary to drop the preassembled switch mechanism H into the housing It and secure the assembled relation by means of a lock nut. The cover plate 20 which is carried by the switch mechanism H, automatically closed the mouth or side wall open.- ing l5 of the housing Ill through which the pre-v assembled switch mechanism H has been inserted. It should be apparent that when the housing land cover plate 20 are formed of insulating material, the assembled form of outer housing and preassembled switch mechanism with attached cover plate has no exposed metal parts to which stray wires or strands of conductors may become short circuited. Inasmuch as a single one-piece outer housing and a simple stamped unitary cover plate carried by the preassembled switch mechanism are the only elements necessary to fully enclose the switch it should be understood that the manufacturing economy involved in the production and assembly of the switch is greatly improved.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch assembly which has a switching mechanism with an operating means therefor projecting therefrom, the combination of a pair of spaced frame plates disposed on either side of the switching mechanism and supporting the switching mechanism therebetween with the operating means extending out from one edge of plates, each of said frame plates having an aperture therein adjacent the edge thereof opposite the first mentioned edge, a housing having an open end for receiving said frame plates with the switching mechanism supported therebetween, said housing having an aperture in its end, opposite said open end and through which the operating means for the switch mechanism protrudes, and an insulating cover member having a pair of ears respectively extending into the aforementioned apertures in said frame plates to support said cover member between said frame plates, said cover member having a configuration corresponding to the aforesaid open end of said open end.

2. In an electric switch assembly which has a switching mechanism with an operating means therefor projecting therefrom, the combination of a pair of spaced parallel frame plates disposed on either side of the switching mechanism and. supporting the switch mechanism therebetween with the operating means extending out from one edge of said frame plates, each of said frame plates having an aperture therein adjacent. the edge thereof opposite the first mentioned edge, a molded one-piece housing having a pair of spaced parallel sides and an open end for re-. frame plates with the switching mechanism supported therebetween and with said frame plates disposed adjacent respective ones ceiving said of the spaced parallel sides of said housin said housing having an aperture in its end opposite said open end and through which the operating means for the switch mechanism protrudes, and

an insulating cover plate having a pair of cars respectively extending into the aforementioned apertures in said frame plates to support said cover between said frame plates and perpendiculay thereto, said cover having a configuration corresponding to the aforesaid open end of said housing to enclose said open end and also having edge notches to receive electrical conductors adapted to be connected to the switching mecha-. nism,

3, In an electric switch assembly which has aswitching mechanism with an operating means therefor projecting therefrom and a threaded collar surrounding the operating means, the com-. bination of a pair of spaced parallel frame plates disposed on either side, of the switching mechanism and supporting th switching mechanism therebetween with the operating means extend.- ing out from one edge of said frame plates, each of said frame plates having an aperture therein adjacent the edge thereof opposite the first men? tioned edge, a molded one-piece housing having a pair of spaced parallel sides and an open end for receiving said frame plates with the switch: ing mechanism supported therebetween and with said frame plates disposed adjacent respective ones of the spaced parallel sides of said house ing, said housing having an aperture in its end ppo i d p n. end and hroug wh c th operating means and Surrounding collar pros.

trude, an insulating cover plate having a pair of cars respectively extending into the aforehousing to enclose said mentioned apertures in said fram plates to support said cover between said frame plates and perpendicular thereto, said cover having a configuration corresponding to the aforesaid open end of said housing to enclose said open end and also having edge notches to receive electrical conductors adapted to b connected to the switching mechanism, and a nut member threaded to the aforesaid collar and engaging said housing for maintaining the assembly rigid within said housing.

4. In an electric switch assembly which has a switching mechanism with an operating means therefor projecting therefrom, the combination of a pair of spaced parallel frame plates disposed on opposite sides of the switching mechanism and supporting the switching mechanism thereloetween with the operating means extending out from one edge of each of said frame plates, a housing having a pair of spaced parallel sides and an open end for receiving said frame plates with the switching mechanism supported therebetween and with said frame plates disposed adjacent respective ones of the spaced parallel sides of said housing, said housing having an aperture in its end opposite said Open end and through which the operating means for the switch mechanism p'ptrudeS, and an insulating cover plate secured to said frame plates and supported therebetween and perpendicular thereto, said cover plate having a configuration corresponding to the aforesaid open end of said housing to enclose said open end.

RUDOLF POPP.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 

